Automated merchandising kiosk
First Claim
1. A self-service merchandising kiosk comprising:
- (a) a portable multi-walled enclosure surrounding a plurality of shelves, wherein said shelves support a plurality of bottomless drawers, and wherein each drawer includes at least one compartment which circumscribes a merchandise storage space;
(b) display means for interactively selecting merchandise at a display panel responsive to non-contacting movement;
(c) means for receiving payment to selected merchandise; and
(d) controller means responsive to said display means for conveying collection means to said drawers, said collection means being adapted for axially withdrawing selected drawers from said shelves to direct contained merchandise into a collection bin and for dispensing the collected merchandise to a tray communicating to the exterior of said enclosure.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-product, self-service merchandising kiosk having a walk-in enclosure, interactive selection panel, illuminated merchandise display, internal drink dispenser and modular, dry goods dispenser having multi-compartmented inventory shelving and bottomless storage drawers. Purchases are selected via audio visual instructions entered at an interactive touch panel containing graphical icons, and a monitor having a menu and overlaid with an array of infrared transmitters and receivers. A programmable controller controls the drink and dry goods dispensers, manages payment transactions via a bill receiver, coin changer, credit card verifier, and receipt printer and provides periodic inventory status reports. A merchandise selector includes a motor driven, track supported collection bin and electromagnetic drawer puller. The selector aligns the bin to selected inventory drawers, extends and retracts the drawers and conveys the selected merchandise to a customer dispenser.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A self-service merchandising kiosk comprising:
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(a) a portable multi-walled enclosure surrounding a plurality of shelves, wherein said shelves support a plurality of bottomless drawers, and wherein each drawer includes at least one compartment which circumscribes a merchandise storage space; (b) display means for interactively selecting merchandise at a display panel responsive to non-contacting movement; (c) means for receiving payment to selected merchandise; and (d) controller means responsive to said display means for conveying collection means to said drawers, said collection means being adapted for axially withdrawing selected drawers from said shelves to direct contained merchandise into a collection bin and for dispensing the collected merchandise to a tray communicating to the exterior of said enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A self-service merchandising kiosk comprising:
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(a) a portable multi-walled enclosure surrounding a plurality of shelves, wherein said shelves support a plurality of bottomless drawers, and wherein each drawer includes at least one compartment which circumscribes a merchandise storage space; (b) display means for interactively selecting merchandise via interruption of a plurality of intersecting beams overlayed to a display panel containing indicia of inventoried merchandise; (c) means for receiving payment to selected merchandise and dispensing receipts; and (d) controller means responsive to said display means for conveying a collection bin into alignment with each of said drawers, wherein first and second driven chains convey said collection bin along a plurality of horizontal and vertical drive tracks, and wherein an extractor means mounted to said bin is independently operable to extend and retract each of said drawers to dispense merchandise retained in the storage space into said collection bin. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A self-service merchandising kiosk comprising:
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(a) a portable multi-walled enclosure surrounding a plurality of shelves, wherein said shelves support a plurality of bottomless drawers, and wherein each drawer includes at least one compartment which circumscribes a merchandise storage space; (b) means for selecting merchandise contained within said enclosure; (c) means for receiving payment to selected merchandise; and (d) controller means responsive to entered selections for conveying collection means to said drawers, said collection means being adapted for withdrawing selected drawers a determined axial distance from said shelves to direct contained merchandise into a collection bin and for dispensing the collected merchandise to a tray communicating to the exterior of said enclosure.
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Specification